As the Asian cricket superstars and national team captains, Harmanpreet Kaur of India and Chamari Athapaththu of Sri Lanka, engaged in a candid conversation, emerged a beautiful discovery – a shared love for the ever-popular Bollywood songs. These melodies, which are likened by many worldwide, have not only captivated the two captains but have also set a harmonious groove for their teams.
It’s well known that teams often fill their dressing rooms with music to maintain a lively atmosphere and the Melbourne Renegades, a club in Australia’s Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL), is no exception.
All-rounder Harmanpreet Kaur who is in Australia for her 2nd stint with the ‘Gades revealed that the team is always eager to listen to her playlist. Quoting Harmanpreet Kaur, “Everyone in the Renegades squad enjoys Indian music, and they’re always eager to listen to my playlist.”
As it turns out, the Bollywood beats have captivated not just the ‘Gades but also all-rounder Chamari Athapaththu and her fellow Sri Lankan teammates. Chamari expressed, “I like Hindi songs too. In fact, my Sri Lankan teammates regularly follow Indian music. It’s a shared passion that keeps us connected on and off the field.”
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Harmanpreet Kaur's playlist has Melbourne Renegades grooving to the beats of Bollywood music. 🎵#CricketTwitter #WBBL pic.twitter.com/2JpCLbVVH1
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On the cricketing front, both Harmanpreet Kaur and Chamari Athapaththu have a deep appreciation for the local talents that shine brightly in the WBBL. This appreciation is rooted in the transformative influence that extends from the establishment of a full-fledged Women’s National Cricket League (WNCL) to the inception of the WBBL which have changed the landscape of women’s cricket forever in Australia.
Chamari Athapaththu stated, “I believe WBBL and the Women’s Premier League (WPL) are the two most competitive women’s cricket leagues in the world. What gives WBBL the edge is the skills and diversity of local talent that add a unique dimension to the league.”
Harmanpreet Kaur too was of a similar opinion, stating, “WBBL has many positives, but the best among them is the approach of the local players in these franchises towards the game. Their dedication and hard work have made the league truly remarkable.”
From Hannah Darlington, Lilly Mills, Darcie Brown, Issy Wong, Phoebe Litchfield, Courtney Sippel, and Tess Flintoff, to Chloe Ainsworth, these are just a few names from a long list of rookie talents that the Women’s Big Bash League has played a pivotal role in nurturing and honing their cricketing skills.
In expected lines, the WBBL has been experiencing just another competitive season. While the competition rightly holds the tag of the best T20 league, it’s also striving for growth with increasing competition and will need to address various aspects, including broadcast, technology, umpiring, scheduling, marketing, and more ahead of its 10th edition next summer.